Cabinet with hidden swing-out bottom platform

ABSTRACT

A cabinet mounted to a surface above a counter includes an outer housing with a front door and an open bottom and at least one support panel connected to a support surface above the counter, at least one side panel internally disposed within the housing and movably connected thereto by a displacement actuator to permit to downward movement of the side panel through the open bottom toward the counter and upward movement of the side panel for disposal within the housing, and a bottom shelf movably connected to the at least one side panel by an extendable and retractable actuator for moving the bottom shelf outward when the side panel is in a downwardly disposed position and for moving said bottom shelf inward for storage when the side panel is in a upwardly disposed position such that the bottom shelf and the side panel are housed within the housing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 61/960,567 filed Sep. 23, 2013, entitled “CABINET WITH HIDDEN SWING-OUT BOTTOM PLATFORM,” filed on May 25, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cabinets and in particular to a cabinet mountable to a ceiling or wall having an inner compartment which downwardly extendable to a lowered position and retractable to an upper stored position has a lower most shelf which is outwardly and inwardly extendable from the lowered position.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There exist various cabinets which exist for storing items above a countertop. This is advantageous for keeping articles off the counter and freeing space thereon. Others have recognized the problem in accessing top shelves by short people or people having disabilities. Oftentimes, stools or ladders must be used to reach these shelves. For a physically challenged person, such as a person confined to a wheelchair, access to the top shelves is even more difficult.

Some improvements in the field have led others to develop ways to move the shelves up an down. In addition, others have developed a rotating shelving mechanism for rotating the shelves. While these improvements have been helpful, there remains a need to improve on the art. Accordingly, a need exists for a wall or ceiling mountable cabinet where the shelves can be moved vertically and horizontally thereby rendering the same more accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a wall or ceiling mountable cabinet with improved shelf accessibility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wall or ceiling mountable cabinet which is more accessible to a person who is physically challenged.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is directed to a cabinet mounted to a surface disposed above a counter. The cabinet includes an outer housing with a front door and an open bottom and at least one support panel connected to a support surface upwardly above the counter. One or more side panel is internally disposed within said housing and movably connected thereto by a displacement actuator mechanism to permit to downward movement of the side panel through the open bottom toward the counter and upward movement of the side panel for disposal within the housing.

A bottom shelf is movably connected to one or more side panel by an extendable and retractable actuator for moving the bottom shelf outward when the compartment is in a downwardly disposed position and for moving the bottom shelf inward for storage when the compartment is in a upwardly disposed position such that the bottom shelf and the side panel are housed within the housing. A controller is operably connected to the actuators for sequentially controlling downward and upward displacement of the side panel and extension and retraction of said bottom shelf. A switch (which can be remotely operated) is operably connected to the controller for causing the actuation of the cabinet compartment and shelf.

Another feature of the invention is to provide one or more pairs of tracks, which can be opposing each other, mounted to one or more inner surface of the housing. The one or more side panel can include a bearing operably disposed within the a respective track for aiding in maintaining smooth movement of the side panel with respect to the housing. Actuators for moving the side panel can include a pneumatic powered or screw type powered mechanism.

The bottom shelf can preferably be equipped with a bearing mechanism to ease movement when contacting the counter top. These can be rollers for example. Similarly, the actuator for controlling extension and retraction can include a pneumatic powered or screw type powered mechanism. Preferably, the controller is equipped with sensors to limit the travel of the side panels when the bottom shelf is sensed to have contacted the counter top.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall or ceiling mountable cabinet contemplated by the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a first stage of deployment of the cabinet of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a second stage of deployment of the cabinet of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an inner surface of the cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inner surface of the cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating of a compartment of the cabinet of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a cabinet according to the invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 10. The cabinet 10 has a housing 12 preferably with a back panel 14, side panels 16 and 18, a top panel 20 and a front border referred to as a front frame 22 that defines a front opening into the interior of the housing 12. The front opening is covered by a door 24 hinged to the front frame 22. Bottom edges of the back panel 14, side panels 16 and 18 and the front frame 22 define a bottom opening 26.

Disposed in the interior of the housing 12 is compartment 28 preferably having a back panel 30, side panels 32 and 34 and a top panel 36 interconnecting panels 30, 32 and 34.

Inner surfaces 38 and 40 of side panels 16 and 18 can be equipped with lengthwise (vertical) tracks 42 and 44 (which are in opposing pairs one panels 16 and 18), and shown here slightly offset to aid in stability as will be understood hereinafter. Roller bearing surfaces 50 and 52 are connected to compartment 28 and are vertically displaced to seat in respective tracks 42 and 44 and in this way aid in stabilizing upward and downward movement. Further, transverse (horizontal) tracks 46 and 48 are opposing one another and provide a race for side bearing surfaces 54 and 56 of bottom shelf 58. Roller bearings 60 can be provided on a bottom of the shelf 58 to aid in movement on a counter top T.

A first displacement actuator 62 is provided to perform downward movement of the panels, 14, 16 and 18 through the bottom opening 26 toward the counter top T and upward movement of the panels 14, 16 and 18 for disposal within the housing 12. A second actuator 64 can be provided for extending and retracting and thus moving the bottom shelf 58 outward when the compartment 28 is in a downwardly disposed position and for moving the bottom shelf 58 inward for storage when the compartment 28 is in a upwardly disposed position such that the bottom shelf 58 and the panels 32, 34 and 36 are housed within the housing 12.

A controller 66 can preferably be operably connected to the actuators 62 and 64 for sequentially controlling downward and upward displacement of panels 32, 34 and 36 and extension and retraction of the bottom shelf 58. A switch 68 (which can be remotely operated a remote 70) is operably connected to the controller 66 for causing the actuation of the cabinet compartment 28 and shelf 58. It is contemplated that the actuators 62 and 64 can include a pneumatic powered or screw type powered mechanism. Preferably, the controller 66 is equipped with one or more sensors 71 to limit the travel of the panels 32, 34 and 36 when the bottom shelf 58 is sensed to have contacted the counter top. A power source 72 is operably connected to controller 66 and actuators 62 and 64.

Upper and lower limits on the travel of the compartment 28 can be set by employing stops 74 and 76 in the race of tracks 42 and 44. Likewise stops 78 and 80 can be employed in tracks 46 and 48 to limit travel of bottom shelf 58.

The cabinet 10 is mounted to studs in a wall below a ceiling by way of screws or other fasteners. While a bottom shelf 58 is disclosed, other shelves are contemplated within the compartments 28 and the spacing between such shelves can be as desired using known pin and aperture technology in the art to configure the same.

Though the cabinet contemplated by the present invention has been described with respect to a rectangular shaped cabinet, it should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the invention is equally applicable to other shapes can be used. Various modifications and alterations to the above-described preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, these descriptions of the invention should be considered exemplary and not as limiting the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A cabinet for mounting to a support surface disposed above a horizontal counter top such that said cabinet is above the counter top when so mounted, which comprises: a cabinet outer housing with a front door and an open bottom and at least one support panel connected to the support surface above the counter top; at least one side panel internally disposed within said housing and movably connected thereto by a displacement actuator mechanism to permit to downward vertical movement of said side panel through the open bottom toward the counter and upward vertical movement of said side panel for disposal within said housing; a bottom shelf movably connected to said at least one side panel by an extendable and retractable actuator for moving said bottom shelf horizontally outward when said side panel is in a downwardly disposed position and for moving said bottom shelf inward for storage when said side panel is in a upwardly disposed position such that said bottom shelf and said side panel are housed within said housing; and a controller operably connected to said actuators for sequentially controlling downward and upward displacement of said side panel and extension and retraction of said bottom shelf.
 2. The cabinet of claim 1, which further includes a switch operably connected to the controller.
 3. The cabinet of claim 1, which includes a remote control having a wireless communication device for operably communicating with said controller which has a wireless communication device.
 4. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said at least one side panel includes one or more pairs of tracks connected to one or more inner surface of the housing.
 5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said tracks are opposing each other.
 6. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said one or more side panel include a bearing operably disposed within said one or more pairs of tracks for aiding in maintaining smooth movement of said side panel with respect to said housing.
 7. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said actuators for moving said side panel include a pneumatic powered mechanism.
 8. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said bottom shelf is equipped with a movable bearing mechanism to ease movement when contacting the counter top.
 9. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said actuator for controlling extension and retraction can include a screw type powered mechanism.
 10. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said controller is equipped at least one sensor to limit the travel of said at least one side panel.
 11. The cabinet of claim 8, which includes a sensor for sensing when said bottom shelf contacts the counter top. 